McCarthy refuses to back Scalise or Jordan for House speaker
The IndependentSign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Kevin McCarthy has urged his Republican allies not to vote for him to retake the role as speaker of the House of Representatives – while also refusing to endorse either of the two candidates Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan. In the session, former House speaker Mr McCarthy told his party not to nominate him this time round, following his unceremonious ouster last week. Mr McCarthy was ousted as speaker last week when eight Republicans – led by MAGA congressman Matt Gaetz – joined Democrats to vote to remove him from the speakership. Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy walks to his office at the Capitol in Washington DC on Monday After Democrats declined to bail out the speaker and members of his own party turned on him, Mr McCarthy was removed in a 216-210 vote to vacate – marking the first time in American history that a speaker has been ousted by other lawmakers.